‘Glee’ to Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson in Upcoming Episode

Before the third season of “Glee” started, the show’s executive producer Ryan Murphy promised critics that the show would only do one tribute episode this season, but the subject would be a good one. Now we know who that person is going to be: Michael Jackson.

TV Guide is reporting that Murphy and company have gotten the green light from Jackson’s family to use ten to twelve songs in a tribute episode, which is scheduled to air on January 24. Yes, we know it’s December, but William Keck‘s report says that the episode is being written as we write this and the shoot will be scheduled before and after the cast and crew’s Christmas break.

The show has used Jackson’s music in the past — the gang sings “Man in the Mirror” in tonight’s episode, for instance — but the possibilities of an MJ-themed episode are intriguing. Sounds like the formula for a fun episode, though the speedy production of it worries us a bit. But since the show has kept away from big theme episodes so far, we can give Murphy this one indulgence.